Melloria rose to her feet, her heart thumping. ‘I shall go to her at once.’ She hurried through the gloom of the abbey, hardly noticing the cold and damp now for she had become accustomed to the hardship. Rosalie was waiting. Turning, as Melloria entered, she looked frightened and her heart caught. ‘What has happened?’ she asked. ‘Tell me at once – is it my daughter?’ ‘Forgive me, my lady. As I slept the child was taken. I saw and heard nothing – nor did the guards or any other person in the castle.’ Rosalie fell to her knees. ‘I was sent to tell you myself because Maria blames me, but how could I know that someone could take her past the guards.’ ‘She did not cry out?’ ‘No, my lady. She seemed happier of late, at peace with herself – and she told me her Papa was coming for her…’ ‘Robert has taken her!’ Beatrice cried but Melloria shook her head.
